Additive measuring device

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device comprising a pair of buckets symmetrically mounted so as to be movable between emptying and filling positions. Additive metering means operated by the movement of the buckets to supply additive to a trough into which the buckets discharge.

Liset United States" Patent 1191 [1111 3,818,925 1 June 25, 1974ADDITIVII MEASURING DEVICE Magna Oddnar Liset, Queensland, AustraliaJean Elizabeth Liset, Greenwood, Via Oakey, Queensland, Australia; apart interest Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 Appl. No: 285,122

Inventor:

Assignee:

us. c1. 137/995, 222/57 1111. 1:1. F16k 19/00 Field of Search 137/98,99, 995, 101.25,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Powers 137/98 X Bruun 137/981,065,913 7/1913 Bice ..137/614.17

1,929,693 10/1933 Jones et a1. 222/57 3,589,561 "6/1971 Davis 222/573,707,994 l/1973 Brown l37/6l4.l7

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 254,287 12/1948 Switzerland 222/57 7,4363/1903 Great Britain 222/57 Primary ExaminerR0bert G. Nilson Attorney,Agent, or Firm-E,mory L. Groff; Emory L.

Groff, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A dispensing device comprising a pair of bucketssymmetrically mounted so as to be movable between emptying and fillingpositions. Additive metering means operated by the movement of thebuckets to supply additive to a trough into which the buckets discharge.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ADDITIVE MEASURING DEVICE This invention hasbeen devised to provide a dispensing device for adding a measuredquantity of soluble material into a water reservoir. The invention hasbeen primarily devised for use with a stock water trough.

Often, the most readily available supply of stock drinking water hasundesirable characteristics, it may, for example, in its naturalcondition cause illness or oversupply of some earth element to stock. Insome in- V stances continued intake of such water may cause the death ofthe animals. Most deficiencies which exist in naturally occurring watercan be offset or overcome by the introduction of a controlled quantityof additive into the water. It is for the foregoing reason that thepresent invention has been developed.

Accordingly, this invention provides a dispensing device comprising asupport frame, a symmetrical bucket assembly, mounting means centrallyand pivotally connecting the bucket assembly to the support frame, stopmeans to limit the pivotal movement of the bucket assembly in onedirection at a first location where the portions of the bucket assemblyon each side of the pivotal axis are respectively located adjacent asupply for a first liquid and an emptying position and in the oppositedirection at a second location where the reverse conditions apply,metering means for an additive, said means being mounted on said frameand including a housing with two parts and a rotatable member arrangedthere-between, said rotatable member having a measuring chamber withport means alternately alignable during rotation of said rotatablemember with one of said housing ports adapted for-connection to a supplyof said additive and alternately with the other of said ports forming anoutlet into said bucket assembly, and drive means to rotate saidrotating member powered by the pivotal movement of the bucket assemblybetween the first and second locations as a result of alternate fillingand emptying of the bucket assembly portions. I

The invention in a presently preferred form is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled dispensing device, and iFIG. 2 is an exploded perspective viewof the additive metering means ofthe device of FIG. 1. a a A symmetrical bucket assembly 1 comprising apair of identical buckets 2 and 3 is centrally supported by a shaft 4mounted in bearings 5 on a metal frame 6 adapted to lie across a stockfeed trough 7 shown in broken outline. From FIG. 1 it will be seen thatthe buckets are generally triangular in shape and (in the raised fillingposition, see bucket 2) the top edge of the bucket is horizontal. Bucket3 in FIG. 1 has its bottom horizontal (or slightly angled down) thebucket is thus in an emptying position.

Steps 8 (preferably resilient) on the frame 6 locate the buckets 2 and 3in the lowered emptying locations.

.6 are baffle assemblies 9 each comprising a support bar l0'0n which ismounted a curved plate 11. The plate 11 may be flat if desired. Theplates 11 are provided with slots 12 to allow them to be movable up anddown. Locking screws 13 are used to secure the plates 11 to the bars 10.The plates 11 are spaced from the front edges 2a and 3a of the buckets 2and 3, which are substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of shaft 4,and regulate the flow of water out of the buckets 2 and 3 over the saidedges as the buckets are lowered to the emptying locations.

A metering device 14 (see FIG. 2 where the device is for convenienceinverted from the operative position shown in FIG. 1) is also mounted onthe frame 6. The device 14 comprises a housing 15 having a mountingplate 16 and a conical bore 17. Diametrically disposed on the housing 15there are two parts formed by the liquid inlet and outlet pipes 18 and19. A conicalnosed rotatable member or rotor 20 containing a measuringchamber fits, in a fluid tight manner, in bore 17. The small end of therotor 20 projects from the housing and has a ratchet wheel 21 fixed toit. There is a diametrical port 22 at one side of the rotor 20 leadinginto the measuring chamber and being, positioned to alternately alignwith the pipes 18 and 19 during rotation of the rotor. The rotor 20is'also axially bored leading into the measuring chamber as at 23 toreceive a sliding plunger 24 having finger grips 25. An O-ring 29 isdisposed in the bore 23 to seal on the periphery of plunger 24 and holdit in a selected axial location. The size of the measuring chamber canbe varied at will by introducing plunger 24 a desired amount into therotor 20. Sealing engagement between the rotor 20 and the housing bore17 is achieved by spring finger 25a which is fixed to frame 6 andpresses on the outer end of rotor 20.

The rotor 20 is rotated by a ratchet pawl 26 pivotally mounted on thebucket assembly as at 27 and engagable with the teeth of ratchet wheel21 when the bucket assembly is in the position shown in FlG. 1. When thebucket assembly pivots to empty bucket 2 the pawl 26 is raised byengagement with eccentrically mounted block 28. By varying the positionof block 28 the pawl 26 can be arranged to provide a partial turn of therotor 20 equivalent to one or several tooth pitches of the pawl 21. Inthis way the times at which pipes 18 and 19 respectively are incommunication with the port 22 can be regulated.

The provision of plunger 24 is optional, it is obvious that rotors ofdifferent chamber size could be fitted to provide the same effect as isachieved by the use of plunger 24.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device comprising a support frame, a symmetrical bucketassembly, a mounting means centrally and pivotally connecting the bucketassembly to the support frame, stop means to limit the pivotal movementof the bucket assembly in one direction at a first location where theportions of the bucket assembly on each side of the pivotal axis arerespectively located adjacent a supply for a first liquid and anemptying position and in the opposite direction at a second locationwhere the reverse conditions apply, metering means for an additive, saidmeans being mounted on saidframe and including a housing with two portsand a rotatable member arranged therebetween, said rotatable memberhaving a measuring chamber with port means alternately alignable duringrotation of said rotatable member with one of said ports adapted forconnection to a supply of said additive and alternately with the otherof said ports forming an outlet into said bucket discharges, andincluding adjustable baffle means mounted in front of said lips toregulate the flow of liquid from the bucket portions.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the metering device housinghas a conical bore and the rotatable member is correspondingly conicallyshaped and is resiliently held in sealing engagement with the bore,

the thinner end of said rotatable member having a ratchet wheel fixed toit for cooperation with a ratchet pawl pivotally mounted on the bucketassembly.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 including adjustable stop meanswhereby the position of engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel ismade adjustable to regulate the amount of rotation of the rotor for eachpivotal movement to and fro of the bucket assembly.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the measuring chamber in therotatable member is variable in size.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the rotatable memberincludes a slidable plunger movable into and out of said member tovarythe size of said measuring chamber.

1. A dispensing device comprising a support frame, a symmetrical bucketassembly, a mounting means centrally and pivotally connecting the bucketassembly to the support frame, stop means to limit the pivotal movementof the bucket assembly in one direction at a first location where theportions of the bucket assembly on each side of the pivotal axis arerespectively located adjacent a supply for a first liquid and anemptying position and in the opposite direction at a second locationwhere the reverse conditions apply, metering means for an additive, saidmeans being mounted on said frame and including a housing with two portsand a rotatable member arranged therebetween, said rotatable memberhaving a measuring chamber with port means alternately alignable duringrotation of said rotatable member with one of said ports adapted forconnection to a supply of said additive and alternately with the otherof said ports forming an outlet into said bucket assembly, and drivemeans to rotate said rotating member powered by the pivotal movement ofthe bucket assembly between the first and second locations as a resultof alternate filling and emptying of the bucket assembly portioNs. 2.The dispensing device claimed in claim 1 wherein the bucket assemblycomprises two buckets disposed one on either side of the pivotal axisand each having a triangular cross-sectional shape, one edge of eachtriangular bucket lying substantially parallel to the pivotal axis andproviding a lip over which liquid from the bucket discharges, andincluding adjustable baffle means mounted in front of said lips toregulate the flow of liquid from the bucket portions.
 3. The dispensingdevice of claim 1 wherein the metering device housing has a conical boreand the rotatable member is correspondingly conically shaped and isresiliently held in sealing engagement with the bore, the thinner end ofsaid rotatable member having a ratchet wheel fixed to it for cooperationwith a ratchet pawl pivotally mounted on the bucket assembly.
 4. Thedispensing device of claim 3 including adjustable stop means whereby theposition of engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel is madeadjustable to regulate the amount of rotation of the rotor for eachpivotal movement to and fro of the bucket assembly.
 5. The dispensingdevice of claim 1 wherein the measuring chamber in the rotatable memberis variable in size.
 6. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein therotatable member includes a slidable plunger movable into and out ofsaid member to vary the size of said measuring chamber.